English in the Drivers Seat

More than a year after its creation, Covisint finally has a CEO.

More than a year after its creation, Covisint finally has a CEO.
The giant online exchange created by DaimlerChrysler AG, Ford Motor Co. and General Motors Corp. this month named Kevin English to head its ambitious operations.

English, who has no automotive industry experience, has held a variety of positions in the financial industry. Most recently, he was CEO of e-commerce and managing director at Credit Suisse First Boston. He was also chairman and CEO of TheStreet.com Inc. when it went public two years ago.

English declined to speculate on when the company might turn a profit or when it will go public.
The hiring of an industry outsider could lead to even further alienation of the supplier community, which has traditionally been at odds with the automakers over costs.